I purchased a 2004 Nissan Sentra from Carmax in 2007 and six months after the purchase the front wheels started making a noise as though the wheel bearings in the front wheels needed to be replaced. Here we are, almost three years and four separate visits to the Carmax service center later, and the problem is still not fixed. On one of these visits Carmax had the car for three weeks, only to find nothing wrong. I'm not sure if the problem is beyond the scope of expertise of the technicians at Carmax, or if the diagnostic and quailty check procedures are not comprehenisive enough to correctly identify the problem. I have been given reasons including the hubcaps are vibrating on the rims and causing a squeaking noise and the brake rotors are warped and causing the brake pads to squeak on the rotors. I would have taken care of the problem myself, but my research I have done on the procedure for changing the front wheel bearings revealed that a specialized tool must be used to remove the bearings.
Also, approximately two years after I purchased the car the paint on the roof started to oxidize in a couple of places, followed by the paint on the trunk lid. I have not pressure washed the car or inflicted any sort of harsh treatment on the paint, and yet it is oxidizing.
I am hesistant to take the vehicle into the service center again, as I am concerned they will misdiagnose the problem again and in the process leave me without a vehicle for another three week span.
If you are considering purchasing an extended service plan with Carmax, but warned that it has some serious pitfalls.